gengō

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元号（げんごう）

The name given to a Japanese era. Since Taika(大化), the first gengō, decided upon in 645, there have been 248 gengō. The current gengō is Reiwa(令和)

Since the Meiji era, gengō have only been changed whenever a new emperor is throned. Prior to the Meiji era, however, gengō were changed frequently, particularly in times of war, famine or whenever a natural disaster of significant magnitude occurred.

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